My eyes linger on her legs. I slowly drag my eyes over the rest of her when she throws her shirt to the floor.
“So beautiful,” I whisper the words as she watches me. Ava slowly lowers her body down before grabbing my cock in her hand. She positions it where she wants it, before sliding down the length of me.
“Ava!” God, the things she can make me feel are beyond my wildest dreams.
She rocks her body slowly on me while her fingers travel over my skin. I watch her face. Her eyes closed, lip between her teeth. She’s perfect for me. She’s everything I want and need, so why do I push her away? Ava quickens her pace. I can’t handle much more. I need to explode in her.
“I can’t hold on very long this time.” Grunting the faster she moves, I know she can’t either. Her nails dig into my skin before her pussy clenches around me.
“Cord!” Screaming my name, she drags me into ecstasy with her. Her juices flow around me as I fill her with everything I have. She feels too good not to.
“I love you.” Letting those three words flow freely makes everything seem right.
All the wrong I’ve done seems right with her.
Chapter 47
I woke up earlier than usual. I couldn’t stop thinking about Amee. I need to find her. I need to bring her home. A piece of me knows that it will be a mistake, though. I know what plans I have I set into motion and it rips me in half to even think about leaving Ava again. I have no choice this time. I have to finish this. This war that is happening needs to come to an end.
I’ve checked in with Nikolai and called a meeting with Juno. If my daughter is still in Italy, I need to get over there, and quickly. I need guns that are untraceable. Juno can handle that. I scrub my hand over my face before looking in the mirror. I look at myself, so worn out, and washed up. This is what this life is doing to me. I took the oath to be what this family needed to be, but at what cost to me. It’s torn me apart.
My eyes are darker than they’ve ever been. There’s so much hatred and rage built up inside of me that I have no idea how to handle it. This darkness has always been a part of me. It’s been my solitude, my retreat.
I can’t have Ava and Amee if I carry this around with me. They are the light in heaven, whereas I am the dark in hell. I can’t have it both ways.
“What are you thinking?” Her voice surprises me. I turn to see her standing in the doorway to the bathroom. She looks as beautiful as ever. Even though she just rolled out of the bed, she’s stunning.
“I have a meeting in a few hours. I want to go back to Italy.” Ava shakes her head before stepping toward me.
“Is that a good idea?” I let out a soft sigh before turning toward her.
“There’s a rat in this family. I need to find out who it is, but Amee comes first. I need to find our daughter.” She looks taken aback. Maybe she should be. Family was always to come first. I made it that way.
“Where will we go?” I know the fear is all too real for her right now.
“I haven’t figured that out yet. I can only trust Jordy right now. I need to figure out the rest of this.” Ava stands still as that settles over her.
I haven’t had time to think this through. I don’t like the idea of leaving Ava here when I don’t know who the fucking rat is.
“How do you feel?” Change in plans. I can’t leave her again.
“Fine. Why?” Scrubbing my hand over my face, I reason this out in my head. We were attacked in our own home. Someone can’t be trusted, but who? Jordy and Romero did save our asses but what happens if I’m not here? Will the same person go after them to get to Ava? They didn’t seem to care that they were in the house at that time.
“I know I should leave you here but without knowing who turned on me, I’m afraid to do that. I want you to come with me.”
Fear resonates itself deep within her. Her eyes dance with that fear. She’s torn between what to do.
“I was afraid I was going to die, Cord. They didn’t stop beating me.” Tears fill her eyes once again.
“I know, and if I thought it’d be okay to leave you here, I would. I just don’t like the idea of it after what happened.” She nods her head. She has to understand my point in this. I can’t have her in harm’s way all the time.
“I’ll go. Maybe I will remember something else that will help. I want my daughter back. It’s killing me to not have her. You don’t think they hurt her, do you?” I won’t let her do this to herself. I won’t let her think that way. Grabbing her by the shoulders, I force her to look at me.
“Don’t you dare think like that! She’s alive and well! I won’t lose any more family.” Ava nods slowly, swallowing hard.
“You’re right. When do we leave?” That’s my girl. That’s the tough woman I met.
“After my meeting. You’re going with me.” Ava nods before heading into the bathroom. I can’t stop the smile that creeps across my face. She’s so goddamn perfect. I slide my phone out and check my messages. Nothing interesting and nothing from Nikolai.
“Can I run something by you?” Crossing my arms over my chest, I lean against the doorframe to the bathroom. Ava’s eyes find mine with interest.
“Of course.”
“Would it seem strange to you if someone extremely trusted, disappeared right before something like that happened at the house?” Ava shrugs before leaning against the counter.
“Did they have good reason to disappear?” That’s a good question. Maybe I’m just overthinking things.
“I think I’m just running on lack of sleep right now.” Shaking my head, Ava moves toward me, wrapping her arms around my waist.
“Is this just a question or do you have a feeling?” Her blue eyes peer up at me with such interest.
“It doesn’t matter. Let’s get ready.” Ava shakes her head before releasing me.
“If it’s a feeling, don’t ignore it, Cord. Those are usually the ones that are right.”
As much as I hate to admit it, she’s right. And I’m scared shitless of what that means for us.
Chapter 48
“You want rifles. To take to Italy? Have you lost your goddamn mind, Cord?” Juno stares at me. He should know better than to talk to me the way he is.
“Since when did it become necessary for you to question me? Last time I checked, I still fucking ran this city!” My nerves are being worked over. So many questions run through my head and Juno isn’t helping that.
“I’m sorry, Cord. That’s just an insane idea. You want guns in Italy, I can get that set up for you.” He doesn’t understand this.
“I don’t have time for that. I’m leaving in a few hours.” Juno’s mouth hangs open, but he quickly closes it. I knew he didn’t want to push the issue.
“Fuck! You get stopped with that kind of load, Cord, you’re going to prison.” I appreciate his concern, although I know he only cares about his money.
“Someone has our daughter! I will claim them as my own as long as he finds her!” Her hysterical outburst startles us all. I glance over before Ava’s flying out of her seat toward him. My heart leaps in my chest watching the fight come out in her. I stand quickly, grabbing her around the waist as Juno’s eyes widen.